When do rubber bands need replacing?

[Kuya]

I noticed that there are small marks of wear on my rubber bands near where the wishbone is. At what point would they need replacing? Do rubber bands snap?

 

[hteas]

Bands can snap if you continue to use them too long. The cracks can get quite large before that. When they do, you will notice taht they are much easier to load, and you will be losing power.
Don't worry about the bands if they only have small cracks; it's normal.

 

[Mr. X]

Some people replace their bands every year - but that seems too much to me (but I live a distance from the sea, others may use theirs more often) . Every 2-4 years maybe? Bands usually start to perish after a year or so - but I still use mine beyond that. The bulk rubber used on SA railguns seems to last years & years but they gradually soften up -- if you found them too hard to start with (e.g. fresh 20mm bands) that might be a good thing. The screw-in bands used on Euroguns have thinner walls and will likely need to be replaced more regularly - although I haven't changed the bands on my XXV yet (hmm, better check those, planning to do a trip soon - they might well need replacing now - thanks for the reminder Kuya! I will convert it from screw-in rubbers to bulk-rubber - not sure yet, either 1x 16mm or 1x 20mm -- leaning toward 16mm currently).

 

[spar]

i rather put 2x14mm or 3x14 than 1x20, 3x14mm are stronger then 1x20 (3x55kg than 1x73kg)

 

[Speardiver1]

If the cracks you're seeing around the wishbone knot are starting to go anything deeper than 1mm I'd replace the bands.

 

[Mr. X]

...I haven't changed the bands on my Omer XXV yet (hmm, better check those, planning to do a trip soon - they might well need replacing now - thanks for the reminder Kuya! I will convert it from screw-in rubbers to bulk-rubber - not sure yet, either 1x 16mm or 1x 20mm -- leaning toward 16mm currently).

Just replaced the Omer screw-in 18mm bands, which have given good service, even when perished, but are now deeply perished at both ends. I have replaced them on my XXV 75cm with a single 20mm* x 60cm bulk-rubber band (diameter actually measures 18.43mm, 30 minutes out of the freezer). Fits the little XXV muzzle perfectly

Also switched from a cobbled together Omer/Picasso screw-on dyneema wishbone to a cheap & cheerful Rob Allen dyneema wishbone.

 

[stick500]

As soon as the season is over I put my bands in a ziplock baggie and put them in the fridge. I heard that's the best way to get a long life out of them and it seems to work quite well.

 

[Mr. X]

As soon as the season is over I put my bands in a ziplock baggie and put them in the fridge. I heard that's the best way to get a long life out of them and it seems to work quite well.

That's a good idea. I keep my spares in a plastic bag in the deep - freeze. Removing bulk rubber bands for winter storage would be a pain - but easy enough for those using screw-in bands . I tend to keep my spearguns locked up in the garage/shed so they stay pretty cool but I think the freezer would be significantly better. Good idea.